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e  Birth  of  Immortal  Life 


From  the  Standpoints  of  Natural  Philosophy 
and  the  Mechanics  of  Inorganic 
and  Living  Matter 


V)  ^1 


BY 

H.  B.  Kipper 


■M,_ 


CAMBRIDGE,  MASS. 


V  ’ 


'’if 

ii  b**'!. 

i?f  r '.‘';"v- 


1905 


The  Birth  of  Immortal  Life 


The  Birth  of  Immortal  Life 

From  the  Standpoints  of  Natural  Philosophy 
and  the  Mechanics  of  Inorganic 
and  Living  Matter 


H.  BViciPPER 


CAMBRIDGE,  MASS. 
1905 


COPYRIGHT,  1910 

bt  h.  b.  kipper 


LYMAN  BROS.,  Pttblisheks 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. 


zir 

kfcSb 


Veritati 

Ecclesiae  et  Scientiae 


f>ioa9 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


I 


https://archive.org/details/birthofimmortallOOkipp 


INTRODUCTION 


Let  us  imagine  a  number  of  tiny  elastic  particles 
rotating  spirally  and  thus  advancing  through 
space,  as  obstructed  by  a  resisting  medium.  Secondly, 
in  order  to  prevent  destruction  of  the  spiral  let  us  pic¬ 
ture  it  as  a  unit  revolving  in  the  same  direction  as  the 
particles  but  with  an  opposite  spiral  motion.  In  this 
manner  both  stability  and  position  in  space  were 
given  and  the  birth  of  organized  inorganic  matter 
took  place.  In  a  somewhat  similar  manner  with  the’ 
replacement  of  the  particle  by  the  atom  the  birth  of 
protoplasmic  or  so-called  living  matter  occurred. 

From  the  latter  point  the  path  along  which  life 
is  advancing  has  been  blazed  for  us  by  Darwin.  He  did 
not  show  us,  however,  that  Nature  is  building  a 
life,  adapted  to  all  environment,  and  one  of  greater 
immortal  strength  than  that  accorded  even  to  inorganic 
types  of  matter. 

The  animal  which  lived  most  perfectly  by  physical 
laws,  determining  the  mould  of  the  next  higher  form 
of  life,  gave  to  its  offspring  the  character  of  this  mould. 

As  the  animal  became  more  highly  differentiated 
from  its  lower  species,  so  as  to  live  by  greater  mental 
acumen,  it  acquired  the  stamp  of  man. 

Man  must  show  obeisance  to  a  higher  code  of  physi- 


INTRODUCTION 


viii 

cal,  mental,  and  moral  laws  in  order  that  his  form  of 
life  may  remain  upon  and  dominate  our  sphere. 

Finally,  what  is  the  mould,  when  regarded  from  a 
finite  sense,  for  a  higher  form  of  life  than  man,  and 
one  born  from  him,  which  obeisance  to  these  laws  will 
determine? 

The  rising  and  falling  of  the  tides,  the  following  of 
day  by  night — all  seem  even  qualitatively  highly 
complicated  until  we  consider  the  simple  mechanical 
basis  of  the  solar  system.  This  is  fully  as  true,  the 
author  is  led  to  believe,  with  gravimetric  and  magnetic 
phenomena  of  the  atom,  and  the  concepts  necessary 
for  their  qualitative  interpretation  are  no  more  com¬ 
plicated  than  those  of  our  solar  system,  and  peculiarly, 
are  highly  analogous  to  these. 

Even  as  the  king’s  castle  and  the  peasant’s  hut  are 
built  with  their  four  walls  and  a  roof,  so  Nature,  uses 
the  same  principle  of  building  her  tiniest  and  great¬ 
est  works. 

The  life  of  another  planet  might  be  very  strange  to 
us;  life  not  confined  to  any  planet  but  allowed  the 
freedom  of  space,  would  it  not  be  very,  very  different 
from  our  own?  Men  are  highly  organized  finite  units 
placed  on  a  ball  of  matter  floating  through  space;  the 
surface  of  this  ball,  their  environment,  has  given  them 
legs  for  locomotion,  and  hands  to  serve  their  daily 
needs.  What  characteristics  would  Nature  determine 
as  most  pertinent  and  practical  for  life  permitted 
limitless  freedom? 

The  strangeness  of  natural  phenomena  cannot 
stand  as  a  barrier  to  their  inception  within  the  human 
mind.  Birth  alone  has  long  ago  torn  asunder  any 
such  misplaced  bars. 


INTRODUCTION 


IX 


The  beginning  of  organic  life  upon  our  sphere  rep¬ 
resented  an  attempt  by  matter  to  overcome  grav¬ 
ity.  Its  culmination  represents  life  which  has  ab¬ 
solutely  overcome  this  force. 

All  life  is  struggling  for  broader  environment  and 
more  perfect  Immortality,  the  Battle  of  Existence. 

The  world  is  seeking  for  religious  tenets  having  as 
their  foundation  that  of  nature.  However  strange  this 
may  appear,  truth  and  reason  will  support  it  and  the 
greater  the  opposition,  the  stronger,  if  truly  embedded 
in  nature,  it  will  become. 

The  beauty  that  these  tenets  will  unfold  to  man  is 
in  the  picture  of  a  reward  for  mental  and  moral  cleanli¬ 
ness,  even  as  Darwinism  laid  bare  a  picture  for  us  por¬ 
traying  a  reward  for  physical  perfection. 

Darwinism  has  given  to  us  a  foundation  placed  on 
rock  for  interpretation  of  life’s  secrets;  it  is  only  a 
foundation.  Will  civilization  build  a  structure  of 
strength  and  beauty  sufficient  to  rest  upon  it? 


THE  BIRTH  OF  IMMORTAL  LIFE 


NO  one  can  estimate  the  harm  that  is  being  done 
our  modern  civilization  by  the  fact  that  relig¬ 
ious,  scientific,  and  philosophical  tenets  differ 
so  radically  from  one  another.  The  true  world  struc¬ 
tures  of  civilization  certainly  cannot  arise  until  they 
are  in  entire  concurrence.  Knowledge  is  one;  the  struc¬ 
tures  possible  therefrom  are  limitless,  but  can  differ 
only  in  their  attributes ;  the  law  of  building  is  the  same 
for  all. 

The  gradual  development  from  lower  to  higher 
forms  of  life  is  deduced  by  the  Darwinian  theory  with 
wonderful  precision — ^from  the  sea-water  algse  and 
urchin  to  the  final  attainment  of  man.  The  formation 
of  the  inorganic  world  from  the  simplest  form  of  mat¬ 
ter,  the  steps  between  this  and  the  lowest  forms  of 
life,  and  the  deduction  of  a  final  possible  attainment 
of  matter  in  its  highest  form — ^immortal  cognizant  life — 
are  not  attempted  by  it. 

Energy,  its  vehicle,  matter,  and  their  combined 
resultant,  motion,  exist  for  man  on  all  sides.  Their 
workings  are  alone  for  him  to  understand.  The  crea¬ 
tion  of  either  of  the  first  two,  infinite  space  and  time, 
will  remain  on  the  pages  of  a  book  forever  closed  to 
him.  They  can  become  clear  only  when  as  infinite 
factors  they  enter  into  life;  it  is  only  in  their  finite 
power  that  they  exist  for  us. 

Particles  of  matter  of  so  small  a  size  that  billions  of 
them  perform  their  functions  in  the  dilation  or  con¬ 
traction  of  the  pupil  of  an  eye  were  created  to  consti- 


2 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


tute  the  universe  and  exist  as  such  for  man.  Follow¬ 
ing  innumerable  untold  by-ways  of  space  by  means  of 
their  inherent  energy,  in  thousands  of  myriads  of  years 
some  of  these  particles  became  forced  to  move  in  regu¬ 
lar  paths,  and  in  little  combined  groups  of  threes,  fours, 
and  greater  numbers  continued  to  revolve  in  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  greatest  force. 

The  particles  ^  in  the  ^^circlets,’’  or  groups,  are  forced 
to  rotate  in  the  opposite  direction  to  the  spiral  revolu¬ 
tion  of  the  ^‘circlets’’  themselves.  The  positive  and  neg¬ 
ative  motions  act  as  attractive  forces — internally 
productive  of  the  atomic  entity  and  externally  i)ro- 
ductive  of  chemical  attraction. 

Let  us  now  briefly  consider  a  schematic  representa¬ 
tion  of  the  atom,  together  with  the  changes  taking 
place  between  the  solid,  liquid,  and  gaseous  states,  and 
also  the  latter  state  above  the  critical  temperature. 

We  must  first  remember  that  there  is  no  true  “static” 
condition  of  matter,  for  every  particle  is  moving  with 
equal  velocity  and  represents  equivalent  energy.  Thus 
all  static  states  are  apparent,  and  we  are  led  to  believe 
in  them  merely  because  of  the  non-perceptibility  of 
dynamic  action. 

In  the  solid  state  we  have  rotation  of  the  particles 
in  various  separate  groups  of  the  “valence,”^  but 

‘The  perfect  elasticity  and  thus  reciprocal  energetic  action  of 
particles  demand  equal  density,  continuous  matter,  or  equivalent 
energy  to  given  space. 

There  is  never  loss  or  gain  in  the  energy  of  particles,  merely 
a  change  in  direction  of  their  motion. 

^The  'particle  is  the  smallest  division  of  matter  that  exists. 
The  group  represents  a  disc  or  sphere  of  particles.  The  valence 
is  a  circle  or  system  of  groups. 

Our  so-called  negative  and  positive  elements  are  made  up  of 
negatively  or  positively  directed  matter.  This  direction  of  mo¬ 
tion  is  produced  by  a  right  or  left  handed  arrangement  of  dif- 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


3 


a  statical  condition  of  the  groups  as  regards  the  atomic 
centre  and  one  another.  In  the  liquid  state  we  have 
not  only  rotation  of  the  particles  in  the  separate  group¬ 
ings,  but  also  revolution  of  the  groups  themselves, 
analogous  to  the  motion  of  the  planets  in  our  solar 
system.  When  the  translatory  motion  of  the  group 
has  become  great  enough  to  overcome  their  static 
condition,  we  get  revolution  of  these,  and  the  liquid  or 
vapor  state  supersedes  the  solid.  Besides  this  we 
have  a  slight  translatory  movement  of  the  molecules 
dependent  on  temperature,  and,  as  regards  the  length 
of  the  path  of  translation,  pressure. 

When  finally  the  force  of  the  translatory  movement 
of  the  molecule  is  greater  than  the  attractive  power  of 
molecule  for  molecule  at  their  surfaces,  the  gas  exists 
above  the  critical  temperature. 

The  rise  of  temperature  causes  more  rapid  col¬ 
lision  of  atomic  groupings;  and  because  of  the  differ¬ 
ence  in  numbers  of  particles  and  spirality  of  such 
groupings  and  the  corresponding  differentiated  action 
of  surrounding  energy,  we  get  actual  group  rotation^ 
together  with  translatory  movement  of  the  molecule. 
At  the  absolute  zero,  since  there  is  no  translatory  mo¬ 
tion,  chemical  action  is  impossible. 

ferent  sized  spheres  or  groups.  These  groups  are  in  turn  made 
up  of  revolving  particles. 

A  molecule  of  matter  in  the  solid  state  we  may  compare  to  a 
cube  with  lines  of  attractive  force  eminating  from  its  corners 
(at  each  corner  there  is  a  tiny  screw);  in  the  liquid  state  it  is 
comparable  to  a  cylinder  (or  cone)  with  fields  of  force  at  the 
ends.  As  so  many  cylinders  the  molecules  may  roll  over  one 
another.  Molecules  in  the  gaseous  state  w'e  may  consider  as 
highly  elastic  balls  with  their  attractive  forces  eminating  from 
the  center  of  gravity. 

®The  vibratory  motion  must  finally  become  rotary,  though 
probably  at  first  of  a  marked  eliptic  character. 


4 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


The  selective  attraction  due  to  the  statical  arrange¬ 
ment  of  groups,  and  productive  of  the  crystalline  solid,  ^ 
gives  way  to  the  atomic  action  of  the  liquid  and  is 
entirely  lost  above  the  critical  temperature.  In  the 
latter  condition  the  atoms  themselves,  acting  merely 
as  attractive  centres,  entirely  predominate  over  the 
group-attractive  forces.  ^  The  vapor  below  its  critical 
temperature  again  may  be  liquified  if  the  mean  free 
path  of  translation  be  made  small  enough,  for  the  atomic 
attractions  will  then  again  predominate. 

In  the  colloid  there  exists  revolution  of  the  particle 
groupings,  but  a  static  condition  of  the  atoms  within 
the  molecule.  In  such  state  from  static  atomic  ar¬ 
rangement  we  have  the  wonderfully  characteristic 
power  of  the  solid  for  retention  of  properties,  together 
with  the  activity  of  reaction  of  the  liquid.  The  non- 
diffusibility  of  the  large  colloidal  molecules,  and  this 
interrelated  static  and  dynamic  action,  are  in  them¬ 
selves  conducive  to  the  marvellous  power  and  activity 
of  our  brain  structure. 

In  the  reaction  taking  place  between  positive  and 
negative  elements  we  have  superposition  of  correspond¬ 
ing  oppositely  revolving  spirals  of  corpuscular  groups, 
partially  analogous  to  the  superposition  of  dextro  and 
laevo  forms  of  an  optically  active  organic  compound. 
We  should  expect,  therefore,  great  intensity  of  reaction. 
The  reaction  between  two  positive  atoms  should  have 

Tn  the  solid  we  have  vectorial  lines  of  forces  due  to  the  spiral 
statical  arrangement  of  the  groups  as  regards  one  another. 
These  lines  of  force  give  rise  to  the  solid  crystalline  structure  and 
are  entirely  lost  in  the  liquid  state. 

^Every  group  represents  a  definite  force.  Their  varying 
sizes  and  left  or  right  handed  arrangement  in  three  dimensions  of 
space  give  the  wonderful  constructive  power  used  by  Nature  for 
upbuilding  the  “elements." 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


5 


little  intensity,  for  here  we  have  two  superimposed- 
like  arrangements  of  particle  groupings,  which  will  not 
permit  the  analogous  groups  of  each  atom  to  come  in 
contact. 

In  the  permanent  magnetic  metal  the  spiral ity  of 
particle  groups  in  one  portion  of  the  atom  is  opposite 
to  the  particle  spirality  of  the  other  and  is  of  less  in¬ 
tensity.  The  two  portions  are  balanced  by  oppo¬ 
site  spiral  group  revolutions.  They  may,  however, 
by  the  magnetic  current  be  reverted  into  two  com¬ 
ponents,  which  instead  of  being  balanced  by  an  op¬ 
posite  group  revolution,  exactly  balance  one  another. 
(Consider  two  screws  with  right  and  left  handed 
threads  and  turning  in  the  same  direction.)  In  the 
non-magnetic  metal  these  forces  are  not  divided  and 
exert  simply  the  force  of  gravity. 


B  greater  intensity  of  particle  rotation 
greater  intensity  of  group  revolution 


!  these  forces 
stand  balanced 
but  give  the 
negative  and 
positive  poles 
of  the  magnet. 


In  the  ‘‘elements”  helium,  neon,  argon,  krypton  and 
xenon  the  spheres  “of  the  valence”  balance  one  an¬ 
other  in  their  negative  and  positive  group  arrangements 
so  that  the  atoms  which  they  comprise  do  not  mani¬ 
fest  chemical  affinity.  ^ 


‘That  is  we  have  both  negative  and  positive  motion,  or 
rotation,  and  right  and  left  handed  arrangements  of  balanced 
matter  in  the  iron  group  of  metals,  thus  giving  to  them  their 
magnetic  properties — negative  and  positive  balanced  fields  with 
their  attractive  powers  projected  without  the  atom — and  high 
specific  gravity,  whereas  in  the  chemically  inactive  elements 
we  have  a  positive  and  negative  arrangement  but  a  positive  or 
negative  particle  motion;  an  internal  atomic  structure  which 


6 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


Let  us  now  examine  a  few  of  the  atomic  properties 
to  see  how  they  concur  with  the  structural  theory 
postulated. 

If  through  a  metallic  wire  we  pass  a  current  of  elec¬ 
tricity,  the  conductive  power  will  be  found  to  vary 
inversely  with  the  temperature.  Every  degree  by 
which  we  lower  our  wire  in  temperature  below  that  of 
the  melting  point  of  ice  increases  the  conductivity  by 
a  given  fraction,  1-273;  just  as  the  addition  of  an 
increment  to  a  force  moving  in  a  given  direction  will 
increase  the  same  by  an  amount  exactly  equal  to  that 
by  which  a  force  moving  in  the  opposite  direction  will 
be  decreased.  The  translatory  motion  is  increased  by 
every  degree  of  rise  in  temperature,  with  equivalent 
decrease  in  electrical  conductivity. 

In  following  the  current  through  a  solution  of  some 
salt,  positive  ions  wander  in  one  direction,  negative 
ions  in  the  opposite,  just  as  the  valence  groups  of  the 
respective  ions  move  in  opposite  spiral  directions  of 
force.  But  these  ions  must  already  have  attained 


would  tend  to  lessen  internal  cohesion  and  give  a  low  specific 
gravity. 

As  we  might  expect,  the  elements  possessing  this  marked  posi¬ 
tive  and  negative  form  lie  between  the  truer  negative  and  posi¬ 
tive  elements,  as  illustrated  by  the  Mendeleelf  table.  Thus,  in  a 
way,  we  may  say,  that  they  are  made  up  of  each  of  these  latter. 
The  inactive  gas  possesses  half  of  the  internal  structure  of  both 
positive  and  negative  elements,  and  the  magnetic  metal  the  full 
structure. 

The  ‘^spirality”  of  the  particles  within  the  individual  group  and 
that  of  the  groups  within  the  atom”  are  always  opposite  and  give 
to  the  atom  its  permanence.  The  arrangement  is  akin  to  that 
of  a  nut  and  bolt.  Positive  and  negative  spiral  rotation  or 
revolution  are  analagous  to  the  spirality  of  a  screw.  Positive 
and  negative  group  arrangement  may  be  compared  to  the  dextro 
and  laevo  atomic  arrangement  within  the  structurally  optically 
active  molecule.  We  thus  see  why  a  salt  with  its  negative  and 
positive  arrangement,  is  a  iion-conductory  of  electricity,  even 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


7 


their  freedom  of  dissociation,  due  to  the  greater  at¬ 
tractive  forces  of  the  solvent,  and,  no  longer  tied  by 
their  chemical  affinities,  exist  but  as  the  independent 
ion.  Otherwise  the  negative  and  positive  groups  of 
metal  and  non-metal  respectively  with  their  oppositive 
direction  of  spiral  revolution  exactly  neutralize,  and 
we  get  the  neutral  salt,  the  non-conductor  of  elec¬ 
tricity. 

Thus,  as  the  arrangement  of  atoms  in  so-called  dextro 
and  laevo  molecules  allows  of  their  neutralizing  powers, 
analogous  arrangement  of  particle  groups  in  the  posi¬ 
tive  and  negative  atoms  differentiates  them  from  one 
another.  The  role  of  atomic  groupings  in  the  optically 
active  molecule  corresponds  exactly  to  the  role  of  vary¬ 
ing  numbers  of  particles  within  the  groups  of  the  atoms. 

as  two  optically  active  compounds  will  neutralize  one  another 
and  not  rotate  a  ray  of  polarized  light. 

The  following  table  should  aid  in  the  understanding  of  the 
above  analysis: 

Let  “r”  stand  for  a  right-handed  spiral  arrangement  of 
the  particles  within  the  group  or  spiral. 

Let  “1”  stand  for  a  similar  left-handed  spiral  arrangement  of 
the  particles  within  the  group  or  spiral. 

Let  stand  for  a  right-handed  spiral  arrangement  of  the 
groups  themselves. 

Let  “L”  stand  for  a  right-handed  spiral  arrangement  of  the 
groups  themselves. 

Let  the  -f  sign  stand  for  right-handed  or  clockwise  motion 
and  the  —  sign  for  a  left-handed  or  counter-clockwise  motion. 
We  may  then  represent  the  various  types  of  the  atomic  structure 
as  follows : 

Positive  “elements”  or  metals:  r  L 

+  + 

Negative  “elements”  or  non-metals  1  R 

Inactive  elements,  the  rarer  gases  r  (or  1)  L  and  R 

+  —  -f  and  — 

Iron  or  magnetic  group  of  metals  r  and  1  R  (or  L) 

+ - (or  +). 


8 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


Although  no  attempt  has  been  made  at  a  quantita¬ 
tive  analysis  in  this  short  sketch,  let  us,  nevertheless, 
examine  the  spectra  of  one  of  the  simpler  “elements,” 
and  of  low  atomic  weight,  as  hydrogen.  The  relation¬ 
ship  of  the  wave-lengths  of  the  spectra  of  hydrogen 
may  be  expressed  quantitatively,  within  the  limits  of 
experimental  error,  by  the  following, vs.  Balmer  formula: 


m2 — 4 

^  represents  any  wave-length,  h  is  a  constant,  and 
m  may  be  replaced  by  three,  four,  five,  etc. 

Now  the  smallest  possible  group  which  can  exist  to 
give  directed  motion  must  contain  three  particles. 
The  velocities  of  rotation  of  particles  in  this  group  and 
those  of  the  particles  in  the  larger  groups  are  the  same. 
The  translatory  path  of  the  smaller  group  is,  however, 
larger,  and  this  path  decreases  in  a  geometrical  ratio 
with  the  increase  in  the  number  of  particles  of  the 
groups — with  the  reverse  order  of  oscillation  frequency. 
If  we  allow  an  increase  of  a  single  particle  in  each  suc¬ 
cessive  group,  the  above  formula  exactly  expresses 
the  wave-lengths  formed  by  these. 

Actual  attraction  to  one  another  would  be  the 
greatest  hindrance  for  perfect  structural  power  that 
we  could  postulate  as  a  property  of  the  particles.  If 
they  were  thus  endowed  they  would  combine  in  all 
ascribable  incongruous  forms  and  exist  as  continuous 
non-interpretable  matter.  The  particles  are,  in  fact, 
definitely  held  apart  until,  through  relationships  of 
motion,  they  impress  into  service  surrounding  neigh¬ 
bors  for  aid  in  combination  with  other  media. 

It  is  the  combination  of  particles  by  mathematical 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


9 


laws^  to  produce  gravity  that  gives  us  our  regular 
interrelated  array  of  a  hundred  atoms;  and  their  for¬ 
mation  was  along  the  lines  of  Nature,  who  worketh 
ever  from  the  simpler  to  the  more  complex. 

The  surface  of  two  spheres  vary  directly  as  the 
squares  of  their  diameters.  Gravity  varies  inversely 
as  the  square  of  the  distance.  Let  us  examine  two 
spheres  with  diameters  A  and  B  and  the  common  centre 
Z).  C  represents  an  atom  of  revolving  particles  likewise 
with  centre  at  D.  The  number  of  particles  in  the  surface 
of  the  greater  sphere  will  bear  the  ratio  to  the  number 
of  particles  in  the  smaller  sphere,  The  amount 

of  directed  energy  evolved  from  C,  trans¬ 
ferred  as  rotary  motion  through  inter¬ 
vening  particles  of  perfect  elasticity  to 
surfaces  B  and  A,  is  exactly  the  same. 

But  on  B  it  is  distributed  over  the  area 
B^,  and  on  A  over  the  area  A^,  or  in  the 
ratio  B^:A^.  The  actual  amount  of  directed  energy 
therefore  exerted  on  their  surfaces  through  rotary 
motion  varies  inversely  as  the  squares  of  the  diameters 
of  the  spheres,  or  as  gravimetric  attraction. 

If  gravity  was  inherent  to  matter  it  would  vary 
inversely  as  the  cube  of  the  distance;  it  is  because  of 
the  arrangement  of  the  particles  within  the  many  fine 
laminae  of  the  atom  representing  the  structure  of  all 
organized  matter,  to  produce  gravity,  that  the  present 
law  holds. 

Let  us  now  briefly  consider  a  substance,  as  benzene, 
changing  from  the  liquid  to  the  solid  state. 

^The  simple  mechanical  laws  which  gravity  determines  de¬ 
mand  but  an  equal  simple  mechanical  interpretation  of  its  forces 
as  from  the  increment  of  directed  motion,  as  postulated,  and 
perhaps  the  simplest  explanation  of  its  workings. 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


10 


the  curve  corre¬ 
sponding  to  liquid  in  con¬ 
tact  with  saturated  vapour, 
is  cut  by  C-D  into  two  parts, 
the  D-B  corresponds  to 
liquid  benzene  above  the 
melting  point,  and  there¬ 
fore  in  a  stable  condition, 


tr 


-T  the  lower  A-D,  on  the 


contrary,  to  liquid  below  the  melting  point,  in  the  un¬ 
dercooled  condition,  which  solidifies  on  contact  with 
the  smallest  quantity  of  solid  benzene,  or  on  stirring, 
and  may  therefore  be  described  as  unstable.  The  line 
C-D  corresponding  to  the  solid  state,  may  also  be  pro¬ 
duced,  and  then  to  the  right  of  D  would  represent  solid 
above  the  melting  point,  a  condition  not  only  unstable 
but  unrealizable,  as  for  instance  ice  above  0°.’’ 

At  the  point  D,  according  to  our  theory,  in  following 
the  line  A-B  in  the  direction  from  B  io  A,  that  is  with 
a  reduction  of  temperature,  the  internal  lines  of  force 
of  the  atom  are  of  such  a  nature  that  they  tend  to 
bring  about  a  state  of  inertia,  or  a  condition  of  small 
internal  vibration  or  revolution,  among  the  separate 
groups  of  the  atom,  and  these,  therefore,  tend  to  assume 
positions  of  rest  as  regards  one  another  and  thus  to 
form  the  crystalline  structure.  If  these  forces,  how¬ 
ever,  do  not  bring  about  this  statical  arrangement 
exactly  at  the  point  D,  but  continue  to  allow  the  dynam¬ 
ic  motion  of  the  groups,  we  get  the  supercooled  liquid. 

In  the  process  under  consideration  we  are  withdraw¬ 
ing  energy  from  our  system  and  in  so  doing  we  are 

*From  the  English  by  R.  A.  Lehfeldt  of  vant  Hoff’s  “Lectures 
on  Theoretical  and  Physical  Chemistry,”  Vol,  1,  p.  16. 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


11 


lessening  both  group  and  atomic  movements.  Al¬ 
though  the  two  paths  representing  the  decrease  in 
vibration  energy  of  group  and  atomic  units  should,  we 
believe,  very  nearly  parallel  one  another,  within  definite 
limits  the  one  might  increase  more  readily  than  the 
other.  1  In  the  supercooled  state  the  atomic  vi¬ 
brations  are  then  still  active  enough  (with  necessa¬ 
rily  increased  vapor  tension)  to  prevent  the  individual 
groups  from  exerting  sufficient  attraction  for  one 
another  to  produce  the  solid  state  of  aggregation  with 
its  smaller  vapour  tension. 

In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  in 
following  the  line  of  cooling  of  a  supersaturated  liquid, 
as  we  should  expect,  there  occur  two  points  fairly  well 
differentiated  from  one  another,  namely  the  so-called 
meta-stable  and  labile  points  of  supersaturation.  To 
produce  crystallization  in  the  former  case  it  is  necessary 
to  add  a  crystal,  however  small,  of  the  substance  under 
consideration,  whereas  in  the  latter  case  it  is  sufficient 
to  jar  the  liquid  in  order  to  produce  immediate  solidifi¬ 
cation.  In  the  first  case  under  consideration  it  is  nec¬ 
essary  to  bring  about  not  only  a  geometrical  orienta¬ 
tion  of  the  atomic  groups  but  also  an  arrangement  of 
the  atoms  within  the  crystalline  structure.  (VVe  must 
both  make  and  lay  our  bricks!)  For  this  purpose,  as 
we  should  expect,  a  geometrical  configuration,  or  crys¬ 
talline  structure,  analogous  to  the  one  with  which  we 
are  dealing,  but  already  formed,  should  most  readily 
serve.  In  the  latter  case,  however,  since  the  group 
atomic  arrangement  has  already  been  brought  about 

^The  ‘‘spirality”  of  the  particles  within  the  groups  and  that 
of  the  groups  within  the  atom  must  alw’ays  balance;  the  spirals 
may,  however,  be  very  different — the  path  of  one  short  and 
steep,  of  the  other  long  and  gradual. 


12 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


and  we  are  dealing  with  equilibrium  of  very  slight 
stability,  merely  to  disturb  this  equilibrium,  as  through 
a  jar,  should  be  sufficient  to  cause  immediate  crystal¬ 
lization. 

Let  us  also  glance  at  the  phenomenon  of  a  gas  or 
vapour,  as  carbon  dioxide,  near  its  critical  temperature. 

The  isotherms  for  a  few  different  temperatures  are 
plotted  in  the  diagram :  ^ 


By  our  theory  above  32.5°,  or  the  critical  tempera¬ 
ture  of  carbon  dioxide,  the  force  productive  of  vibra¬ 
tion  impact  of  any  two  molecules  is  always  greater 
than  the  attraction  tending  to  keep  them  together,  so 
that  no  matter  how  great  the  pressure,  or  short  the 
path  of  translation,  the  molecule  can  never  assume  the 
liquid  state.  The  molecule  in  the  gaseous  state,  ex¬ 
ists,  we  remember,  as  a  sphere.  It  does  not  possess 
the  fully  developed  lines  of  attractive  force  eminating 
from  each  individual  group  of  the  crystal,  nor  is  the 
attracting  field,  produced  by  the  vibrating  or  revolv- 

^Nernst’s  Theoretical  Chemistry,  p.  219;  2nd  English  Ed.,  by 
R.  A.  Lehfeldt. 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


13 


ing  circle  of  groups,  sufficient  to  hold  the  molecule  in 
contact  with  its  neighbor  as  in  the  liquid. 

At  a,  on  the  isotherm  of  13.1°,  the  free  path  of  vi¬ 
bration  has  become  so  small  that  the  attractive  field, 
peculiar  to  the  liquid  and  produced  by  the  specific 
group  vibrations,  causes  liquifaction. 

Atomic  vibrations  tend  to  hinder  the  change  of  mat¬ 
ter  at  a  perfectly  exact  point  from  the  gaseous  to  the 
liquid  state,  even  as  the  group  vibrations,  collectively 
considered,  tend  to  hinder  such  change  from  the  liquid 
to  the  solid  state.  In  other  words  the  atomic  identity 
retards  the  immediate  expression  of  the  group  equa¬ 
tion. 

Between  p  and  8  of  the  isotherm  we  get  a  peculiar 
trend  to  the  curve.  Let  us  examine  this.  This  por¬ 
tion  of  the  curve  tends  to  weaken  the  van  der  Walls 
equation,  for  it  seems  to  belie  nature  to  say  that  in  ad¬ 
vancing  over  an  isotherm  in  the  same  direction  both 
pressure  and  volume  can  decrease.  In  the  gaseous 
state  we  are  dealing  essentially  with  the  atomic 
identity  and  atomic  vibrations.  At  /3,  however,  be¬ 
sides  the  specific  attractive  force  derived  from  the  field 
of  revolving  groups  coming  into  play  the  attractive 
lines  of  force  of  the  group  tend  also  to  exert  themselves, 
but  are,  however,  overcome  by  the  too  great  vibra¬ 
tions  of  the  groups.  The  sudden  application  of  these 
forces  not  only  tends  to  bring  the  molecules  together 
but  also  tends  to  decrease  their  volumes.  At  the 
critical  temperature  there  is  no  chance  of  the  specific 
force  derived  from  the  revolving  groups  coming  into 
play,  so  that  our  equation  does  not  give  us  a  portion 
of  the  curve  analogous  to  the  one  which  we  have  been 
considering,  but  merely  the  normal  path. 


14 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


By  our  theory  it  is  the  attractive  force  derived  from 
this  dynamic  orientation,  if  we  may  thus  term  it,  or 
field  of  revolving  groups,  that  gives  to  the  liquid  its 
solvent  power  for  specific  salts,  whereas  gases  mix  in 
all  proportions,  and  the  solid  has  but  a  few  isomorphous 
fellows  with  which  it  will  crystallize. 

In  radium,  according  to  the  author’s  views,  the 
negative  spiral  motion  of  the  particles  within  the 
groups  and  the  positive  group  spiral  motion  do  not 
balance;  disintegration,  therefore,  occurs,  and  the  so- 
called,  ^  and  a,  or  negative  and  positive,  rays  are 
evolved.  These  in  turn,  since  they  represent  merely 
a  positive  or  negative  arrangement  of  matter  and, 
therefore,  not  a  balanced  one,  rapidly  break  down  to 
the  final  etherial  particles.  ^ 

The  forward  motion  of  the  individual  tiny  “screw,” 
or  ray,  is  exactly  compensated  by  its  backward  motion 
over  its  larger  spiral  path.  This  action  is  very  analo¬ 
gous  to  the  balancing  of  the  force  of  gravity,  exerted 
by  the  sun  upon  the  earth,  by  the  energy  of  rotation  of 
the  earth.  Once  this  balanced  nature  of  the  atom  is 
destroyed,  disruption  occurs  and  the  tiny  “screw,”  or 
ray,  rushes  forward.  It  is  capable  of  existence  outside 
of  the  atom,  however,  for  but  a  short  space  of  time 
when  it  must  break  up  into  the  particles  from  which  it 
was  formed. 

In  the  few  words  which  we  allot  to  different  phe¬ 
nomena  in  this  exceedingly  abbreviated  sketch  let 
us  somewhat  further  consider  the  carbon  atom. 

In  carbon,  as  is  now  generally  believed,  we  are  deal- 

Tt  is  probable  that  in  the  case  of  radium  we  behold  constant 
decomposition  and  reformation  of  elements;  for  mass  action  no 
doubt  holds  for  matter  in  the  ca::e  before  us  as  for  others  already 
studied. 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


15 


ing  with  a  tetrahedral  form  of  atom.  ^  Its  group  at¬ 
tractive  forces  are  derived,  therefore,  equally  from  all 
four  corners,  or  faces  if  we  will.  Such  atom  exists, 
therefore,  almost  as  a  sphere  with  an  exterior  film  or 
skin  tending  to  compress  it. 

With  an  increase  in  temperature  of  the  carbon  atom 
the  path  of  vibration  of  the  groups,  since  they  are  at¬ 
tracted  equally  toward  a  common  centre,  does  not 
tend  to  increase  greatly,  and  the  atom  remains  in  a 
highly  compressed  condition  and  does  not  readily  as¬ 
sume  the  liquid  or  gaseous  state,  volatilizing  only  at 
the  highest  temperature. 

In  the  lower  “negative  elements”  positive  valence 
revolution  and  group  rotation  tend  to  balance  so  that 
these  elements  are  poor  electrical  conductors.  The 
higher  valency  of  these  elements  establishes  this  view. 
In  the  negative  elements  of  larger  atomic  weight  the 
divergency  is  more  marked  so  that  the  “elements”  of 
this  class  are  conductors. 

The  fact  that  the  positive  univalent  atoms  have 
large  atomic  volumes  and  are  the  best  conductors  of 
electricity  is  in  entire  concurrence  with  our  theory.  In 
these  elements  the  single  “valence”  can  exert  but  a  small 
compressible  influence  since  the  attraction  exists  merely 
on  a  single  surface.  They  are,  however,  excellent  con¬ 
ductors  since  the  groups  do  not  themselves  neutralize 
their  power  for  conductance  as  we  believe  is  so  truly 
the  case  in  the  tetrahedral  carbon  atom. 

In  studying  atomic  forces  there  naturally  arises  the 
question  whether  electricity  cannot  be  directly  ob- 

^The  simplest  manner  to  picture  the  carbon  atom,  according 
to  the  author’s  idea  of  the  same,  is  by  four  screws  with  their 
heads  at  the  four  corners  of  a  tetrahedron  and  their  points 
coming  together  at  the  center  of  gravity. 


16 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


tained  from  carbon  or  coal.  The  carbon  atom  exists 
as  a  tetrahedron  with  its  four  valences  symmetrically 
arranged.  Thus  the  migration  of  such  an  atom,  as 
ion,  in  a  given  direction  to  combine  with  a  negative 
element  is  impossible,  for  each  “valence”  would  exert  an 
equal  force  and  thereby  tend  to  hold  the  atom  motion¬ 
less. 

The  small  conductivity  and  great  difficulty  of  vola¬ 
tilization  of  the  carbon  atom  are  also  due  to  such 
symmetry  of  arrangement  of  its  valence  groups. 

But  let  us  leave  the  forces  of  the  inorganic  world 
and  see  how  we  are  led  to  believe  Nature  continues  in 
the  building  of  her  structures.  Because  of  its  more 
perfect  symmetry  the  carbon  atom  is  adopted  as  the 
building  stone.  One  is  cemented  to  another,  at  first 
so  as  to  form  the  wall  of  her  building,  the  chain  of 
carbon  atoms  in  a  non-complex  organic  compound  and 
analogous  to  the  first  movement  of  the  particle  in  a 
straight  line.  The  chain  changes  to  the  ring,  the  en¬ 
closing  walls  of  the  structure,  which  represents  a 
repetition  of  the  process  as  seen  in  the  circlet  of  par¬ 
ticles.  The  change  to  a  totally  enclosed  space,  the 
sphere  of  atoms  as,  but  a  moment  ago,  of  particles, 
next  occurs,  and  we  behold  the  polymerized  organic 
substance,  as  the  cellulose  of  the  plant. 

The  forms  of  matter  thus  far  considered  might  rep¬ 
resent  either  organic  or  inorganic  types. 

For  the  rise  of  the  types  which  we  designate  as  liv¬ 
ing  we  must,  so  to  speak,  start  again  from  the  begin¬ 
ning,  with  the  mere  replacement  of  the  single  particle 
by  the  carbon  atom.  ^  As  such  particles  arrange  them- 

*The  underlying  principle  of  any  new  form  of  life  is  a  new 
form  of  motion.  As  there  are  three  dimensions  to  space,  and 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


17 


selves  in  groups  containing  different  numbers  of  ethe¬ 
real  particles  to  revolve  in  the  direction  of  greatest 
force,  so  groups  of  atoms  become  affixed  to  the  sym¬ 
metrical  carbon  atom,  to  give  the  so-called  dextro  and 
laevo  optically  active  bodies  and  analogous  to  the  posi¬ 
tive  and  negative  elements. 

The  role  of  the  optically  active  compounds,  which 
exist  in  so  large  a  proportion  in  brain  and  body,  may 
be  compared  to  that  of  the  chemically  active  atoms. 
We  find  a  great  majority  of  the  above  constituents 
wherever  physiological  functions  are  highly  active.  A 
specific  ferment  will  destroy  one  modification  of  such 
a  compound  and  leave  the  other  unharmed;  and  it 
always  requires  an  analogus  agent  or  more  highly 
organized  life  to  affect  their  separation.  Forces  which 
bring  about  the  separation  of  other  elemental  com¬ 
pounds  are  absolutely  inoperative  towards  these. 
There  must  exist,  then,  some  closer  relationship  be¬ 
tween  their  atomic  groupings  and  organized  life  forms 
— even  a  sort  of  lock-and-key  arrangement,  as  A  mil 
Fisher  aptly  terms  it. 

matter  tends  to  make  use  of  all  three,  the  simplest  arrangement 
productive  of  a  possible  new  type  of  life  must  be  represented  by 
a  spiral.  The  atom  was  formed  from  an  arrangement  of  spirals 
made  of  particles  of  the  ether.  First  protoplasm  was  made  up 
from  a  like  arrangement  of  atoms.  The  tiniest  particle  spirals, 
the  groups  which  we  have  been  considering  as  parts  of  an  atom, 
are  akin  to  negative  electrical  charges,  the  larger  spirals  made  up 
of  the  groups  themselves  to  form  the  atom  are  analgous  to  the 
positive  charge  which  we  know  is  a  much  larger  one.  Both 
negative  and  positive  forms  must  exist  in  the  atom  to  give  to  it 
stability,  even  as  a  nut  and  bolt  link  one  another  together.  Neg¬ 
ative  or  positive  particle  spirals,  depicting  like  electrical  charges 
can  exist  in  the  free  state  merely  a  fraction  of  a  second.  Both 
negative  and  positive  charges  are  omitted  from  radium  in  its 
decomposition.  The  third  almost  neutral,  or  Roentgen  ray, 
might  well  be  regarded  as  an  almost  neutral  sphere,  and  one 
which  should  suffer  almost  instantaneous  decomposition. 


18 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


Between  these  optically  active  compounds  and  or¬ 
ganized  life  species  there  exist  the  enzymes,  or  physio¬ 
logical  solvents,  which  serve  as  tools  for  preparation 
of  the  food-stuffs  used  by  the  protoplasm  for  life  energy. 

When  the  atomic  groups  contained  in  the  optically 
active  compound  have  become  sufficiently  differen¬ 
tiated,  they  tend  completely  to  rotate  the  polarized 
light-wave.  The  latter,  however,  instead  of  being  thus 
acted  upon,  itself  produces,  under  right  conditions  for 
freedom  of  movement  (the  colloidal  state),  a  slight 
rotation  of  the  groupings  of  the  optically  active  com¬ 
pound.  That  is,  a  certain  amount  of  absorbed  light 
energy  is  now  exerted  as  vital  force,  ^  just  as  light-waves 
coming  in  contact  with  other  forms  of  matter  may  sub¬ 
sequently  be  exhibited  as  heat  or  electricity. 

^That  is,  the  principle  of  first  organic  life  was  a  new  mode  of 
balancing  right  and  left  handed  matter,  in  which  the  atom  plays 
a  role  within  the  molecule  analogous  to  that  played  by  the  par¬ 
ticle  within  the  atom.  Thus  it  was  the  “chance”  formation  of 
the  racenic  form  of  the  optically  active  compound  that  led  to 
organic  life.  With  the  birth  of  this  form  of  matter,  as  the 
protoplasm,  the  assimilation,  we  may  say,  or  neutralization  of 
gravity  became  possible. 

Perhaps  this  property  can  be  made  clearer  to  the  reader  by 
considering  molecules  containing  a  number  of  kindred  dextro 
and  laevo  atomic  groups  which  tend  internally  to  neutralize  one 
another. 

Let  us  start  with  two  optically  active  molecules  A+  A —  and 
B+  B — .  B —  and  A-|-  partially  neutralize  one  another  and 
are  chemically  active?  by  reaction  w^e  get  therefore  the  molecule 
A  +  A — .  The  latter  is  brought  into  contact  with  C  +  C — ,  also 
B— B  + 

chemically  active  toward  B+  B — .  The  molecule  formed  we 
may  represent  by  A -I-  A — .  That  is  the  molecule  employs  its 
B—  B  + 

C+  C— 

optically  active  groups  as  so  many  arms  and  hands  to 
draw  to  it  other  kindred  groups,  combines  these  groups  chemi¬ 
cally  within  itself  and  continues  this  process  until  a  point  is 
reached  at  which  the  optically  active  halves  internally 
neutralize  and  since  these  are  not  chemically  combined  they 
tend  to  separate  from  one  another. 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


19 


The  above  form  of  matter  exhibits  the  character  of 
the  vegetable  protoplasm;  and  when  other  surround¬ 
ing  forces  than  light-waves  produce  similar  motion,  we 
get  the  protoplasm  of  the  animal. 

The  first  force  tending  to  impart  activity  to  this 
form  of  matter  is  that  produced  by  light-waves.  Their 
directed  energy  may  cause  motion  in  it.  This  move¬ 
ment  is  opposite  in  character  to  that  which  light  rays 
tend  to  impart  to  ordinary  matter.  In  the  latter  case 
it  is  merely  impact  action  and  the  object  is  driven 
backward.  In  the  former  case  motion  is  produced 
akin  to  the  turning  of  a  screw  and  by  which  the  screw 
is  carried  forward.  Light-waves  enervate  this  form 
of  matter  even  as  magnetic  currents  attract  or  repel 
magnetic  matter.  Growth  takes  place  and  toward 
the  source  from  which  these  rays  originate,  or  our  solar 
sphere,  and  they  tend  to  construct  the  plant. 

Structurally,  then,  the  protoplasm  is  very  analogous 
to  one  of  the  forms  of  the  optically  active  compound. 
The  possibility  of  the  dynamic  action  of  the  atomic 
groupings  arranged  statically  the  same  in  both  occurs, 
however,  merely  in  the  former. 

It  is  only  in  its  power  of  forming  the  ‘‘individual”  that  the 
protoplasm  differs  radically  from  other  matter  and  from  the 
laws  of  chance  in  the  above  manner  the  individual  structures 
possible  to  build  would  be  limitless.  Since  the  wonderful  re¬ 
searches  of  Pasteur  science  has  come  to  study  closely  the  re¬ 
lationships  existing  between  organic  molecules  optically  active. 
This  relationship  is  productive  of  a  form  of  molecular  attraction 
and  it  is  both  this  force  and  chemical  affinity  that  the  author  is 
led  to  believe  the  protoplasm  makes  use  of. 

By  their  employment  and  manner  the  cell  or  protoplasm  (if 
existent  in  the  colloidal  state  which  is  necessary  for  the  group 
reaction)  makes  use  of  whole  groups  of  atoms  for  its  reaction, 
whereas  the  ordinary  chemical  reaction  occurs  between  single 
atoms  (or  groups  of  particles)  in  solution.  Groups  of  atoms 
may  then  form  nuclei  to  interact  with  one  another  even  as 
atoms  represent  nuclei  of  particles  which  may  be  active  inter  se. 


20 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


Diagrammatically  we  may  represent  both  of  these 
conditions  of  matter  in  the  same  manner. 

In  reproduction  the  protoplasm  first  tends  to  attract 
groups  of  opposite  nature.  They  in  turn  attract  groups 
to  themselves  similar  to  those  of  the  original  molecular 
complex.  The  first  groups  then  tend  to  come  together 
and  separate  from  the  protoplasm.  The  new  complex  ^ 
when  fully  formed,  since  it  represents  a  three  dimen¬ 
sional-like  arrangement  of  atomic  groups  similar  to 
that  of  the  parent,  also  separates  from  the  latter. 

The  positive  and  negative  portions  form  the  unor¬ 
ganized  ferment  or  enzyme.  The  latter  in  its  cat¬ 
alytic  properties  is  very  analogous  to  the  aqueous 
solvent,  our  greatest  catalyzer.  Both  tend  to  cause  a 
form  of  dissociation  of  the  molecule  on  which  they  act 
so  that  an  intensified  reaction  may  take  place  between 
the  dissociated  parts  and  other  bodies.  The  enzyme^ 

^The  atomic  structure  and  the  manner  of  atomic  arrangement 
determine  but  slight  attractive  power  between  the  negative  and 
positive  portions  of  the  above  form  of  the  optically  active  com¬ 
pound,  so  that  they  readily  separate  from  one  another — as  so 
many  crystals — when  formed. 

It  is  essentially  in  its  power  of  constructing  the  individual 
unit  that  the  protoplasm  differs  from  other  inorganic  and  organic 
matter,  which  must  always  form  in  the  solid  state  the  mere 
crystalline  agglomerate. 

The  crude  beginnings  of  both  inorganic  and  organic  life  had 
as  their  basis  this  method  of  negatively  or  positively  directing 
energy  and  a  right  or  left  handed  structural  arrangement  per¬ 
mitted  of  this  directing  power. 

^Let  us  consider  the  enzyme  or  solvent  as  made  up  of  a  nega¬ 
tive  and  positiye  part,  say  C4-  and  D — ,  and  the  body  to  be 
acted  on,  or  solute,  as  NaCl,  of,  say  A —  and  B — .  A+  and  B — 
tend  to  combine  with  C  +  and  D —  to  form  A  +  B — .  Through 

D— C  + 

combination  energy  is  ^‘internally”  evolved. 

Such  energy  is  absorbed,  at  least  in  part,  by  A+  B —  to 
change  it  to  form  the  more  stable  solid  to  the  less  stable  “gas¬ 
eous  state  of  solution,”  or  one  in  which  the  energy  content 
and  thus  reactivity  are  both  greatly  increased.  Partial  dissocia- 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


21 


uses  its  atomic  groups  even  as  the  solvent  employs  its 
particle  groups  for  attractive  power  to  form  the  un¬ 
stable  intermediate  body,  from  which  merely  by  energy 
changes  the  final  compound  may  be  obtained. 

Now  what  is  the  first  function  enhibited  by  the  pro¬ 
toplasm,  a  function  differentiating  it  from  unorganized 
life  forms  and,  excluding  reproduction,  perhaps  its 
most  prominent?  From  the  seedling,  through  the 
agency  of  the  sun’s  rays,  there  occurs  an  upward 
growth  of  the  plant,  away  from  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
and  therefore  directly  opposite  to,  or  against  gravity. 
Now  what  should  one  who  has  studied  the  growth  and 
differentiation  of  organic  life  predict  as  the  outcome 
of  such  movement?  Clearly,  as  a  consummation  to 
the  protoplasmic  power,  a  form  of  organized  matter  in 
which  the  possibility  of  motion  from  the  earth  against 
gravity  should  be  complete.  Do  other  formulated 
pictures  along  the  lines  of  actual  growth  still  point  to 
the  same  ending?  In  the  plant  we  have  a  slow  con¬ 
tinuous  movement  of  matter  directly  against  gravity; 
in  the  lower  animal  such  action,  manifoldly  increased, 
allows  of  motion  seemingly  at  will  in  all  directions. 
How  much  more  truly  is  such  motion  accentuated  in 

tion  may,  of  course,  also  occur.  The  reaction  may  be  either 
endothermic  or  exothermic,  but  the  parts  of  the  molecule,  on 
which  the  catalyzer  is  acting,  have  been  changed  from  the  in¬ 
active  (solid)  to  the  active  (liquid)  or  (colloided)  state. 

We  now  bring  into  contact  with  dissolved  NaCl,  let  us  say 
AgNO^  ions.  Precipitation  of  AgCl  takes  place.  The  vectorial 
attractive  forces  of  silver  and  chlorine  ions  are  so  great  that  this 
occurs.  Their  attractive  force  toward  the  solvent,  water,  in 
comparison  with  that  existing  between  themselves,  is  very  small. 
The  vectorial  forces  between  the  atoms  of  the  solute  are  lessened 
with  solution  and  are  dissipated  between  these  and  the  solvent. 
If  they,  however,  are  of  marked  intensity  for  one  another  and  of 
minimum  attractive  power  for  the  solvent,  solution  will  not  occur. 


22  THE  BIRTH  OF 

the  bird,  which  puts  at  naught  all  gravity  in  its  smooth 
upward  course. 

Has  God,  then,  finished  his  work  of  building  with 
the  bird,  or  is  man  approaching  a  still  higher  form  of 
life  even  though  for  the  moment  he  may  again  have 
been  placed  upon  the  earth  that  he  may  more  readily 
till  and  work  the  soil  and  make  duty  and  pleasure 
parallel?  Is,  then,  what  we  designate  as  the  soul  ap¬ 
proaching  such  a  form  of  life,  and  if  so,  what  is  its 
relationship  with  the  mind  and  protoplasm  of  our 
present  life?^ 

Before  many  years  the  scientific  world  will  come  to 
believe  that  every  atom  represents  a  mathematical  ex¬ 
pression,  2  and  that  it  may  be  constructed  from  the  free 

‘The  only  phase  that  seems  droll  in  man,  our  so-called  repre¬ 
sentative  of  the  highest  form  of  matter,  is  that  he  has  to  supply 
energy  to  himself  continually,  to  wash  his  body  of  decomposi¬ 
tion  products,  and  to  be  held  within  the  prison  confines  of  the 
earth  by  the  bars  of  gravity. 

^The  conception  that  our  world  was  a  rotating  ball  and 
that  man  could  walk  upon  it  seemed  preposterous  and  analogous 
to  the  idea  that  man  could  walk  upon  the  ceiling  to  those  of  a 
few  generations  ago.  The  great  size  of  the  ball  did  not  portray 
to  them  the  natural  picture  in  its  true  strength.  The  conception 
of  the  rotating  forces  of  the  atom,  which  to  man  is  relatively  in¬ 
finitely  smaller  than  our  worldly  sphere  is  large,  may  appear  to 
many  of  our  own  generation  even  as  the  above  idea  seemed  to 
those  of  a  past  one. 

In  each  atom  rotating  matter  or  energy  exists.  The  pro¬ 
toplasm  is  constructed  from  millions  of  these  almost  inconceiv¬ 
ably  small  units.  When  organic  life  has  finally  gained  the  com¬ 
plete  supremacy  over  inorganic  forces,  we  may  say  that  its  de¬ 
termining  motion  is  rotatory  and  that  life  has  then  perfect  ex¬ 
pressive  power. 

In  the  development  of  inorganic  or  monodynamic  life  three 
general  steps  were  taken,  all  of  which  were  characterized  by  a 
change  in  the  predominating  direction  of  motion;  straight  fine 
motion  was  followed  by  a  vibratory,  and  that  in  turn  by  a  rota¬ 
tory  one.  We,  of  course,  behold  the  finally  completed  work  in 
our  solar  or  atomic  system.  In  dualistic,  or  organic,  fife  these 
three  changes  also  peculiarly  occur;  in  the  plant  the  predominat- 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


23 


— unless  directed,  absolutely  non-perceptible — ether. 
The  highest  form  ^  of  life  is  one  that  can  represent  all 
expressions. 

Color  and  other  properties  of  our  elements  show 
but  their  imperfections.  Organized  matter  possessed 
of  perfect  objective  power  and  thus  adaptability  to 
all  environment,  would  possess  no  such  properties. 

The  molecule  of  oxygen  possesses  a  relatively  marked 
adaptability  to  environment,  and  but  few  properties, 
when  compared  to  the  hard  transparent  diamond;  and 
yet  the  imperfections  of  the  latter  are  far  less  than 
those  of  the  opaque  steel.  The  density  of  gas  may  be 
many  times  that  of  oxygen,  and  yet  the  latter  remains 
almost  imperceptible  to  the  senses.  The  surrounding 
ether  has  a  density  probably  many  score  times  that  of 
the  densest  metal,  and  yet  we  cannot  feel  it. 

What  tremendous  power  may  be  entrusted  to  a 
little  conducting  wire  without  the  slightest  change  in 
its  appearance  to  the  eye  of  man! 

The  free  ether,  ^  with  its  density  many  hundred 
times  that  of  our  body,  we  cannot  even  detect  since 
it  represents  balanced  matter;  the  motion  of  every 
particle  is  reciprocally  compensated  by  that  of  another. 
Now  final  and  most  highly  organized  life  will  have 
precisely  this  same  property  of  the  unorganized  ether 

ing  motion  is  in  a  straight  line,  in  the  animal  it  is  vibratory  and  it 
too  must  finally  be  followed  by  a  rotatory  one.  The  dualistic  or 
balanced  nature  is  also  characteristic  of  this  life,  and  through  it 
the  power  of  thought  is  given. 

^Frorn  the  struggle  of  the  earthworm  animal  life  has  been 
one  of  gradually  expanding  freedom,  and  the  increase  of  intel¬ 
ligence  has  paralleled  the  degree  of  freedom  granted.  With 
infinite  freedom  will  come  like  sight. 

*Lord  Kelvin  has  mentioned  that  from  our  senses  we  should 
never  even  know  the  presence  of  the  air. 


24 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


from  which  it  is  born ;  namely,  every  particle  constitut¬ 
ing  it  will  be  reciprocally  balanced.  ^  The  detection  of 
the  presence  of  this  life  by  any  of  our  senses  or  instru¬ 
ments  is,  therefore,  impossible.  This  form  of  life,  since 
no  external  force  could  act  upon  it,  must  be  absolutely 
indestructible.  The  fact  that  physical  indestructibil¬ 
ity  is  the  primal  and  only  requirement  of  immortal  life, 
in  this  our  natural  universe,  those  who  wish  to  im¬ 
mortalize  mortal  flesh  do  not  seem  to  have  grasped. 

This  free  ether  constitutes  by  many  billion  fold  the 
greater  portion  of  our  universe  and  yet  we,  who  live  in 
a  realm  almost  nothing  in  comparison  to  its  size,  do 
not  wish  to  countenance  the  possibility  that  it  can 
support  life.  It  would  be  far  more  plausible  to  expect, 
because  of  the  spontaneous  method  of  generation  of 
life  within  our  universe,  that  its  greater  portion,  un¬ 
trammeled  by  man,  would  be  teeming  with  life.  ^ 

^The  kinetic  theory  of  gases  is  applicable  in  its  fullest  degree 
to  the  free  particles  of  the  ether  and  explains  why  this  surround¬ 
ing  medium  even  with  its  great  density  is  not  perceptible.  The 
absolutely  indestructible  organized  form  of  matter  capable  of 
construction  from  spiral  atomic  forips  must  have  an  analogous 
construction — every  atom  will  have  its  motion  compensated  by 
the  motion  of  some  other  atom  and  internally  to  the  molecule. 
If  this  were  not  true  and  the  motion  of  a  single  atom  were  ex¬ 
ternally  balanced,  it  could  be  acted  upon  by  chemical  or  other 
force  and  the  structure  in  which  it  was  situated  would  be 
capable  of  alteration  and  destruction. 

*The  opening  of  the  eye  unites  us  with  environment  the 
vastness  of  which  is  almost  inconceivable  to  one  who  has  never 
had  the  power  of  sight.  The  eye  during  its  myriads  of  years 
of  development  in  the  animal  and  in  the  human  race  has  gradu¬ 
ally  become  a  structure  so  perfect  that  it  is  able  to  subject  to  the 
use  of  the  life  of  which  it  is  a  part  many  of  the  indulations  taking 
place  among  the  particles  of  the  ether,  that  is,  light  waves. 
But  is  there  not  a  still  higher  possibility,  the  possibility  of  the 
existence  of  an  organism,  a  form  of  life,  a  soul,  call  it  what  we 
will,  which  should  be  so  organized  that  it  must  bear  the  relation¬ 
ship  to  all  conditions  of  matter  which  the  eye  bears  alone  to  light 
and  not  to  the  condition  of  matter  existing  for  us  as  darkness? 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


25 


In  the  changes  taking  place  in  any  form  of  matter 
the  non-stable  always  precedes  the  stable  form. 

It  is  hideous  and  belying  Nature  for  man  to  consider 
that  she  is  not  upbuilding  an  individual  form  of  life  of 
even  greater  immortal  strength^  than  that  accorded  to 
atomic  matter  from  which  she  is  building. 

The  human  body  is  made  up  of  millions  of  little  liv¬ 
ing  organisms,  each  in  itself  complete,  and  possessing 
sufficient  adaptability  to  environment  for  life  and  for 
the  fulfilment  of  its  small  duty.  At  a  period  in 
man’s  development,  certain  cells  assume  the  perfect 
qualitative  character  of  the  larger  individual  and 
coincidentally  greatly  increased  power. 

Analogous  to  the  formation  of  the  spermatozoon  at 
puberty  from  a  given  cell,  is  the  production  of  the  soul 
from  the  mind.  The  full  environment  of  its  universe, 
the  body  of  man,  has  been  inflected  within  the  cell. 
As  the  cell  must  have  perfect  strength  to  meet  all  en¬ 
vironment  of  its  mould,  or  man,  to  become  the  offspring, 
so  must  the  mind  be  able  to  meet  any  or  all  conditions 
of  environment  of  our  life,  and  without  opposition  or  de- 

This  latter  state  is  one  of  a  balanced,  unorganized  ether  (the 
motion  of  every  particle  is  reciprocally  balanced  by  that  of 
another)  and  is  commensurable  with  the  beginning  of  things. 
The  finality  of  life  organization,  that  it  may  meet  its  every 
environment,  must  too  conform  to  this  infinite,  universal  mould. 

Should  not  the  environment  of  thought,  the  environment 
which  most  truly  binds  us  with  all  space  and  time,  with  God 
and  our  universe,  by  its  very  subtlety  of  power  bring  forth  an 
organization  capable  of  exerting  strength  not  granted  to  man 
and  through  which  it  should  obtain  domain  over  realms  whose 
borders  at  least  seem  visible  to  him? 

*In  the  construction  of  a  toy  or  of  a  machine  man  uses  his 
strongest  and  least  destructible  material;  w'hether  Nature  is 
constructing  a  toy  or  machine  in  our  individual  life  she  too  will 
finally  make  it  indestructible;  the  mind  of  man  but  parallels  for 
short  spacings  the  infinite  mind  of  Nature. 


26 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


structive  action  toward  other  life  to  become  the  soul,  ^ 
a  tiny  reproduction  of  our  Universe,  or  Son  of  God. 

The  soul  has  all  and  yet  no  properties,  for  in  its  per¬ 
fection  it  conforms  with  all  surrounding  life.  In  the 
atom  we  have  a  duplication  of  the  world,  in  the  soul 
the  duplication  of  the  universe,  or  Image  of  our  Creator. 

The  Darwinism  of  mind  excludes  opposition  of  life 
to  any  environment,  and  by  it  the  lie  in  the  mental 
sphere  is  of  no  greater  value  than  the  deception  of  the 
closed  eve  in  the  physical  world.  Dishonesty  and 
other  prostituted  forces  of  mankind  spring  from  in¬ 
ternal  mental  discord,  ^  and  the  mind  practising  them 
cannot  exert  self  will,  the  foundation  of  highest  life. 

We  must  admit  that  he  whom  we  designate  as  the 
‘‘highest  type  of  manhood’’  represents  the  best  indi¬ 
vidual  life  for  the  community.  It  is  clearly  the  most 
perfect  form  of  social  life  that  Nature  is  constructing 
for  our  world.  Let  us  but  for  a  moment  consider  what 
must  be  the  characteristics  of  this  life!  If  higher  in¬ 
dividual  life  is  permitted  at  all  it  will  be  granted  only 
to  the  highest  type  of  life  of  our  world. 

Dishonesty  if  developed  in  all  individuals  to  its 
fullest  extent  so  as  to  control  all  human  acts  would 
soon  brook  revolution  and  chaos.  Science  tells  us  at 
least  that  man  is  the  most  beautiful  organized  mechan¬ 
ism  known  and  thus  furtherest  removed  from  rudi- 

^Nature  will  not  limit  the  freedom  of  her  highest  life.  As  a 
civilized  being  I  will  not  hurl  a  stick  of  dynamite  among  my  fel¬ 
low  men,  though  I  may  use  it  to  shatter  a  boulder  or  some  other 
obstacle.  Although  limitless  power  and  freedom  must  be  given 
to  highest  life,  the  restraining  force,  which  is  partially  born  in 
man,  is  expanded  for  this  life,  so  that  it  evokes  the  same  reverence 
and  deterring  will  regarding  all  works  of  Nature  that  the  human 
mind  holds  alone  for  its  peers. 

*  Discord  caused  by  the  non-adaptability  of  life  to  its  determin¬ 
ing  social  mould  or  environment. 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


27 


mentary  life.  The  latter  was  generated  by  the  laws 
of  chance  from  unorganized  or  chaotic  matter.  From 
this  state  life  is  gradually  progressing  away  and  toward 
its  most  perfectly  organized  form.  The  man  of  char¬ 
acter  and  self-control  and  the  man  of  dishonesty  ^  and 
weakness  are  both  placed  on  the  same  path.  Which 
of  the  two,  gentle  reader,  is  approaching  the  goal  and 
who  is  nearest  the  starting  point? 

To  the  soul  should  be  granted  perfect  free  will, 
but  satisfaction  with  the  will  and  power  of  God  over 
all  other  matter  is  necessary,  and  therefore  the  will  of 
both  child  and  parent  must  stand  concurrent.  ^ 

Would  a  railroad  continue  in  its  employ  an  engineer, 
were  he  disposed  to  whirl  his  train  by  a  set  signal,  and 
regain  his  lost  time  through  such  dishonesty,  but  there¬ 
by  endanger  his  whole  cargo?  Remember  the  engineer 
in  opening  his  throttle  places  under  the  control  of  a 
few  ounces  of  brain  the  many  tens  of  thousands  of 
pounds  of  his  train.  Such  power  is  permitted  him  be¬ 
cause  of  man^s  insight  into  a  few  natural  laws  and  his 
control  of  forms  of  matter  governed  by  them.  Once 

^Dishonesty  is  as  a  breach  to  the  attack  by  fellow  men  and  is, 
therefore,  non-cominensiirable  with  indestructibility  or  im¬ 
mortality. 

^That  from  the  piece  of  coal  can  be  constructed  the  thinking 
power  of  the  mind  is  remarkable;  but  no  more  so  than  the  judg¬ 
ment  to  which  the  mind  is  being  subjected  before  it  can  enter 
the  mould  giving  to  it  indestructibility. 

Environment,  extended  through  generations  and  thus  called 
heredity,  determines  the  mould  we  enter,  it  does  not  create  the 
mould.  With  the  birth  of  the  universe  the  creation  of  all  pos¬ 
sible  moulds  took  place. 

The  twentieth  century  may  come  to  believe  that  moral  filth 
will  grate  upon  the  sides  of  and  prevent  entrance  to  the  immortal 
mould,  even  as  the  nineteenth  century  has  come  to  see  that 
physical  filth  tends  to  prevent  our  entrance  to  the  perfect  physi¬ 
cal  mould.  The  highest  social  laws  are  applicable  but  to  high¬ 
est  life,  and  shape  to  the  mould  of  this  life. 


28 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


in  perfect  unison  with  all  Nature  he  will  possess  control 
from  his  tiny  sphere  of  matter — ^almost  infinitely 
small — of  this  infinitely  great  universe;  a  picture  of 
the  perfect  sublimity  of  true  materialism. 

The  case  of  the  engineer  is  relative.  Nature  will  put 
herself  not  under  the  control  of  one  with  destructive 
desire — the  test  must  have  been  perfect.  The  Son  of 
God  must  live  with  those  below  him  in  perfect  unison; 
the  whole  structure  of  the  universe  must  be  complete. 

As  the  relationship  between  the  radius  and  the 
circle  is  infinite,  and  as  we  can  express  the  same  onl}^ 
imperfectly, 'SO  our  mind  from  its  imperfections,  how¬ 
ever  slight,  can  never  reach  the  infinite  expression 
power  of  the  soul,  and  must  always  remain  slightly 
differentiated  from  it.  Our  very  longing  for  the  un¬ 
derstanding  of  the  infinite  shows  but  our  approach  to 
life  where  our  vision  no  longer  will  be  limited,  and 
where  we  shall  comprehend  the  infinite  Universe  with 
its  associations  even  now  as  we  understand  our  finite 
world. 

The  unborn  babe  knows  nothing  of  the  life  it  is  to 
enter.  It  is  the  wisdom  of  Nature.  Wherever  there 
is  a  sudden  change  or  break  in  any  of  Nature’s  life- 
processes  she  most  wisely  tends  to  lessen  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  former  environment.  The  misery  of  impos¬ 
sible  attainment  would  stultify  all  progress. 

It  is  the  mind  practising  self-control  contingent  with 
social  laws  that  shall  gain  for  its  son  immortality. 
Thus  the  man  who  lives  the  highest  life  consistent 
with  conditions  of  environment,  or  he  who  obeys  the 
moral  law  of  non-opposition  to  existing  life,  is  a  sub¬ 
ject  for  immortality.  The  ten  commandments  of  our 
Bible,  next  to  the  life  of  Christ,  the  greatest  gift  to  the 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


29 


world,  are  probably  our  nearest  approach  to  the  ex¬ 
pression  of  the  laws  necessary  for  such  life. 

Is  there  after  all  no  science  of  religion?  Have  we 
not  merely  neglected  this,  the  greatest  of  all  sciences, 
for  many  generations,  and  during  such  period  been 
unable  to  understand  the  tremendous  value  and  power 
of  the  greatest  laws  ascertainable  by  man,  but  already 
discerned  by  him, — namely,  those  dealing  with  him¬ 
self  as  object?  The  laws  governing  lower,  as  inorganic, 
forms  of  life,  during  our  gradual  ascent  of  the  slope  of 
life,  have  become  clearly  visible  and  their  truth  and 
value  to-day  are  not  doubted.  But  are  we  not  still 
approaching  to  a  higher  pinnacle,  although  one  whose 
summit  already  had  been  reached,  even  if  by  one  who 
did  not  record  the  minute  details  of  the  surrounding 
landscape,  from  which  the  range  of  vision  will  be  far 
greater? 

The  final  step  for  the  birth  of  the  soul  is  not  so  far 
removed  from  man  as  man  is  from  inorganic  matter. 
Retribution  determines  both.  Would  we  have  the 
degenerate  parent  produce  the  healthy  child?  Chris¬ 
tianity  and  the  law  of  the  “survival  of  the  fittest’’  ^ 
are  but  parallel. 

^Darwin  has  shown  us  how  in  each  successive  stage  Nature’s 
living  species  have  tended  to  better  themselves.  This  should 
continue  until  a  perfect  form  of  life  is  attained.  As  long  as 
reproduction  is  inherent  within  life  its  final  stage  has  not  been 
reached. 

The  cornerstone  of  imperialistic  Darwinism  would  be  the  pro¬ 
duction  from  the  ape  of  man.  This  is  an  experiment  that  might 
be  carried  out  with  success  even  though  it  should  require  thou¬ 
sands  of  years  for  completion.  The  truth  of  reason  in  this  case 
has  been,  however,  equal  in  strength  to  the  truth  established  by 
the  visual  sense,  so  generally  demanded  by  science.  The  corner¬ 
stone  of  the  full  structure  of  science  would  be  set  in  place  by  the 
formation  of  atomic  matter  or  of  the  protoplasm.  The  latter 
accomplishment,  the  author  is  led  to  believe,  would  have  been 


30 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


It  is  as  hard  for  the  scientist  to-day  to  believe  in 
immortality  as  it  was  for  the  ancients  to  believe  in 
the  spherical  form  of  our  earth.  They  needed  the 
plain  with  its  jumping-off  points,  and  could  not  imagine 
how  one  could  “walk  upside  down,^^  and  so  the  modern 
scientist  requires  their  non-destructible  “elemental” 

held  a  generation  ago  as  the  death  to  man’s  belief  in  immortality. 
Either  accomplishment  in  the  future,  it  is  my  belief,  will  serve  as  a 
cornerstone  to  the  proof  of  immortal  life  and  to  a  universal 
religon. 

The  temperature  at  the  surface  of  our  sphere  will  make  the 
production  of  the  element  most  difficult  and  perhaps  always 
prevent  it.  A  neutral  zone  free  from  gravity  and  at  the  absolute 
zero  is  the  womb  for  the  birth  of  the  chemical  element.  There 
are  conditions  in  which  the  element  tends  to  reproduce  itself 
even  as  the  protoplasm  has  the  power  of  self-reproduction. 

The  formation  of  the  metal  in  the  present  era  would  be  a 
catastrophy  to  the  human  race;  when  civilization  has  reached 
a  much  higher  level  the  reverse  will  be  true. 

The  synthesis  of  the  lowest  form  of  the  protoplasm  should  be 
accomplished  during  our  century.  To  achieve  this  result  will 
mean  the  building  up  of  a“St.  Peter’s  of  Rome”  within  the  point 
of  a  pin.  Scientific  finesse  of  workmanship  should  not  fail  even 
in  such  a  task. 

The  reader  may  ask  what  the  formation  of  elementary  matter 
may  have  to  do  with  religion.  Religion  is  a  science  of  nature  a  s 
truly  as  any  other  science.  With  the  foundation  of  knowledge 
necessary  to  produce  the  element  or  the  protoplasm  at  man’s 
disposal  he  will  have  the  fullest  natural  knowledge  attainable 
by  him. 

Over  a  century  ago  Dalton  was  busy  with  his  atomic  specula¬ 
tions.  Only  a  half  a  century  later  Wohler  conquered  the  organic 
molecule,  urea.  The  Curies  and  Ramsay  have  but  just  dis¬ 
covered  the  bricks  from  which  the  atom  is  built,  or  a,  ^  and 
X  rays.  These  most  scientists  consider  as  negatively  or  posi¬ 
tively  charged  particles,  whereas  the  author  deals  with  them  as 
negatively  or  positively  constructed  matter.  In  whatever  light 
one  may  regard  them  it  will  be  but  a  short  period  before  the 
nature  of  these  blocks  and  their  arrangement  within  the  atom 
are  made  clear  to  science  and  possibly  they  will  be  brought  to¬ 
gether  and  atomic  matter  conquered.  The  manner  of  formation 
of  the  diamond  is  understood,  but  man  cannot  sufficiently  con¬ 
centrate  physical  forces  to  form  a  diamond  except  of  the  tiniest 
magnitude;  so  it  may  be  that  man  will  likewise  be  unable  to 
concentrate  the  necessary  physical  forces  to  produce  the  atom. 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


31 


atoms.  But  lately  we  have  been  allowed  to  behold 
how  even  these  wonderfully  perfect  structures  may  be 
torn  apart,  and  with  their  destruction  has  come  about 
the  belief  of  the  unity  of  matter  as  of  the  unity  of 
energy,  and  the  polytheistic  beliefs  of  science  have 
given  place  to  those  of  true  monism. 

Each  little  atom  represents  an  expression  of  God; 
when  we  have  reduced  this  to  a  common-sense  verbal 
expression  it  merely  remains  through  patience  to  reduce 
it  to  an  exact  corresponding  mathematical  one.  There 
wDl  then  be  no  more  reason  for  designating  our  ex¬ 
pression  as  theory  (merely  because  we  cannot  see  all 
the  phenomena  with  our  naked  eye)  than  there  is  for 
saying  that  two  and  two  make  four  by  theory,  or  that 
our  earth  revolves  around  the  run  by  theory.  Theory 
and  fact  coincide  when  the  explanation  of  a  phenom¬ 
enon  has  been  reduced  to  the  simplest  mechanical  foun¬ 
dation. 

Civilization  to-day  is  groping  for  the  possibility  of 
higher  intellectual  and  mortal  life,  and  once  religion, 
science,  and  philosophy  (for  natural  philosophy  or  that 
based  on  scientific  data  is  our  true  religion)  are  no 
longer  at  variance,  the  purposes  of  Nature  and  intel¬ 
lect  will  become  parallel. 

Whether  matter  and  energy  attain  a  final  goal  of 
immortality  from  man,  of  course  none  can  say;  but 
certainly  they  are  striving  as  other  forms  before  have 
strived  and  succeeded  in  gaining  a  more  lasting  and 
stable  life.  Every  aggregation  of  matter  is  struggling 
for  more  extended,  and  thus  finally  infinite,  environ¬ 
ment  and  more  perfect  Immortality,  ^  The  Battle  of 
All  Existence. 

Tf  there  were  but  a  single  being  within  the  universe  all 


32 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


energy  and  matter  would  belong  to  this  life.  As  there  are, 
however,  millions  of  lives  within  our  universe  only  limited  energy 
can  be  allotted  each.  The  environment  of  the  individual  plant 
is  represented  by  a  few  feet,  that  of  man  by  thousands  of  miles. 
The  environment  which  will  be  allotted  to  the  supreme  life  of 
our  universe  will  be  infinite.  The  laws  governing  the  vesting  of 
energy  must  have  become  even  more  inherent  to  the  individual 
life  which  is  to  enjoy  the  fullest  environment  than  the  highest 
degree  of  knowledge. 


IMMORTAL  LIFE 


33 


CONCLUSION 


The  more  we  examine  the  path  of  civilization  the 
more  we  become  impressed  by  the  fact  that  it  has 
always  followed  the  same  course.  Thus  in  studying 
former  civilization  we  find  that  similar  truths  have 
been  opened  to  them  at  periods  of  development  anal¬ 
ogous  to  those  of  our  own  generation.  Formerly  by 
observation  of  hidden  truths,  and  contact  with  fellow 
beings,  the  single  pearl  of  truth  was  drawn  from  each 
and  all. 

To-day  our  scientists  have  observed  largely  natural 
phenomena,  and  up  to  the  present  have  come  to  con¬ 
clusions  concerning  matter  very  analogous  to  the  the¬ 
ories  of  the  Greeks.  The  great  European  mind  has  at 
its  command  a  thousand  pair  of  hands  to  overturn 
and  spade  the  earth,  that  it  may  more  accurately  see 
the  embedded  hidden  secrets,  and  not  trust  alone  to 
those  above  the  ground. 

Those  scientific  theories  which  have  been  found  not 
to  stand  the  test  of  concurrency  with  Nature,  have 
been  relegated  to  the  pages  of  mythology.  What  has 
been  said  attacks  none  of  our  present  accepted  scien¬ 
tific  work. 

Civilization  will  behold  how  clearly  we  are  shown 
that  Nature’s  every  argument  points  to  immortal  life.  ^ 

^The  laws  of  chance  governing  us  demand  that  our  universe 
must  be  infinite  in  size;  if  it  were  finite  a  coin  tossed  into  space 
and  landing  with  ‘‘head  up”  upon  being  tossed  a  second  time 
would  fall  “tail  up,”  or  a  definite  number  of  “heads”  would  be 
followed  by  a  like  number  of  “tails.”  It  requires  infinite  tosses 
to  establish  equality  between  “heads”  and  “tails;”  only  infinite 
action  could  bring  about  this  result.  Celestial  mechanics  can 
deal  only  with  the  finite. 


34 


THE  BIRTH  OF 


Nature  is  developing  our  nobler,  moral  strength  for 
birth  of  this  life  fully  as  truly  as  she  produced  other 
characteristics  for  determination  of  lower  life. 

If  we  wish  to  accept  Darwinism,  the  first  half  of 
natural  philosophy  and  that  relating  to  the  past  of 
man,  we  had  better  accept  the  second  half  also,  or 
that  depicting  his  future.  With  its  acceptance  and  the 
abolishment  of  the  mythology  pertaining  to  our  reli¬ 
gion  the  Church  may  light  the  world  as  it  never  has 
before;  for  with  this  light  man  may  behold  his  own  en¬ 
vironment. 

In  the  realm  of  the  infinite  in  which  we  exist  tem¬ 
porary  life  is  purposeless  and  as  nothingness.  The 
man  who  believes  that  our  life  does  not  represent  an 
integral  part  of  the  universe  and  was  constructed  with¬ 
out  purpose  and  that  individual  life  has  been  reared 
by  Nature  but  to  perish,  is  he  right  in  his  belief? 


